Updates and Happy New Year!

There has been plenty going on since my last post which was far too long ago. First off, ArniWorks Photography had a successful run at the Orillia Farmers Market from May – Dec. and I am very proud that my prints and calendars are now hanging in dozens of home here and abroad, many thanks to all my clients, both old and new! I will be returning to the market sometime in May 2013 and will be participating in art shows and fairs whenever possible in between now and then.

I am a member of the Orillia Naturalists Club and over the last few weeks I have been preparing a variety of images for a slideshow that I will be presenting at the next meeting which is January 2, 2013. It has been a labour of love going through all of my images once again, the hard part will be to keep the presentation within the time allowance.

In amongst being busy with my other job, the market and traveling I was still able to get some time watching my feeders. The Red-bellied Woodpecker is now here on a regular basis and arrives at least once an hour. It is a very handsome male and routinely fights off the Starlings, eats some black oil sunflower seeds then picks out a peanut and flies away. I put a vertical perch up on the feeder which all the birds have readily adapted to including the Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Other colourful visitors this year also include 3 pair of House Finches and over 2 dozen Common Redpolls. In amongst the Redpolls, there is a very uncommon Hoary Redpoll. I only have a very poor picture of one so far and look forward to getting a better image.

Perhaps the most unusual visitor so far this season is this Pine Warbler on Christmas Day. Like other Warblers, it should be south of Georgia but here it is eating suet at my feeders. I wonder if it will stick around?

Lastly, we spent another fruitless day in Algonquin Park looking for the reported Great Grey Owls that have been spotted at various locations. But any day in Algonquin is a good day as shown by these images of a male and female Pine Grosbeak and the perennial favourite, Gray Jay.